In the fertile fern fields, a group of large herbivorous dinosaurs lay scattered or sprawled, adult Triceratops basking contentedly in the sunlight, their eyes half-closed in ease.
Watching the younglings frolic in the midst of the herd, a sense of elder satisfaction washed over them.
Big Horn was surrounded by several Triceratops, appearing to be playing from a distance, but in reality, this was a group of unfriendly younglings.
"Hey! Where did you come from, you wildling? We've never seen you before. Who are your parents?"
Big Horn grunted for a long time before saying, "My parents are dead. I've always been part of the herd. I've seen you."
The Triceratops younglings forming a circle looked confused. Was that true? How could they not remember such a chubby youngling?
Big Horn confidently called out their names, "I know your names too. You're Gulu, Luhua, and Guga, right?"
Having mingled with the younglings, it already knew these three were the most domineering among them, always bullying other weaker younglings. The other younglings dared not speak out of anger, because the female Triceratops named Luhua's father was the leader.
The youngling named Gulu widened its beastly eyes in surprise, "You actually know!"
Luhua arrogantly raised its head, "So what if you know our names? We're still going to beat you today!"
Big Horn knew a fight was inevitable, but facing three alone was difficult. After thinking, it said, "My father said that if multiple Triceratops gang up on one, it's shameful even if they win. If you have the guts, let's fight one-on-one!"
The three Triceratops exchanged glances. They were accustomed to bullying other younglings together, so how could they agree to this request!
"No, we won't fight one-on-one!"
Big Horn was very angry hearing this. These younglings were unreasonable!
"Since you won't fight one-on-one, then wait. I'll go find some Triceratops to help me!"
Big Horn left them to find help. However, everyone was afraid to fight the leader's younglings. If they lost, they would be punished. If they won, what if Luhua complained and the leader got angry and drove them out!
So, no one helped Big Horn. The Triceratops younglings that had been flattering it earlier all shrank back. There was no other way, Big Horn had to go by itself.
Unsurprisingly, Big Horn was beaten black and blue. Luhua and the other two younglings left proudly after bullying the chubby youngling. As soon as they left, Big Horn quickly got up to eat. The more injured it was, the more it needed to eat. But there were always some malicious younglings who came to snatch its food, deliberately stepping on its injured body and defecating on it, making it incredibly smelly!
Big Horn roared angrily, but around it, there was only mockery and indifference.
Night fell, and the warm spring breeze was replaced by a cool night breeze. The Triceratops quieted down and closed their eyes to rest.
Big Horn did not rest. It dragged its bruised body to find grass for treating external wounds. Its mother had taught it, and it recognized that grass.
No one paid attention to its actions. As long as it didn't disturb the sleep of other dinosaurs, it wouldn't be beaten.
Big Horn crawled and searched. Without parents, it was driven to the outermost edge of the herd. The grass in the outer areas was eaten down to the roots during the day. The fertile areas were where the leader and strong Triceratops rested, not places for it.
Big Horn crawled cautiously, chewing grass roots mixed with soil and stones and swallowing them. Tears rolled down its eyes in large drops. It missed its family...
Finally, by luck, it found a few medicinal herbs. It bit them with its mouth and carried them on its back, chewing them and spitting them onto the ground. Then, it lay down on its injured parts. Because it was covered in saliva, the herbs easily stuck to its body, along with dirt, of course. At this time, it didn't care about such things.
After finishing these tasks, Big Horn wearily closed its eyes.
After an unknown amount of time, light hit its eyelids. Big Horn's eyes snapped open. What woke it was not the sun, but a familiar scent – the scent of a carnivorous beast!
Big Horn sprang up from the ground and ran towards the herd, roaring as it ran, "Predators are here!"
Its cries alerted everyone. The adult Triceratops instantly woke up and rushed to find the leader in a panic.
Meanwhile, the carnivorous beasts had already begun their hunt. The sounds of chaotic trampling and roaring, blood splattered everywhere, and flying chunks of flesh. By the time the leader arrived, the carnivorous beasts had finished their hunt.
Big Horn hid far away, watching the scene. Its eyes held no fear or terror, nor sympathy for its dead kin. Those Triceratops only bullied it, and whether they lived or died had nothing to do with it.
At this moment, it was only filled with lingering fear, involuntarily recalling its father and Big Brother Da Bao. It seemed to understand why its father had made Big Brother Da Bao disturb its sleep every day!
The death of more than a dozen kin had no significant impact on the entire herd. They ate, they defecated, as usual. It could be said they were already accustomed to it.
Every day, kin died. The strong preyed on the weak, and the weak were eaten.
The only ones who could not adapt were probably the younglings of the deceased Triceratops. Without the protection of their parents, life became very difficult.
Big Horn, dragging its scabbed body, quietly mingled with the younglings, snatching grass to eat. The leader's younglings had changed their target of bullying and were now picking on the younglings whose parents had just passed away.
Those younglings were severely bullied, almost beaten to death. Big Horn merely glanced at them, not intervening. Those younglings had never helped it, so it didn't want to help them.
Thus, it lived with the herd for some time. Big Horn lost some weight, but its muscles became harder and stronger. The fat that disappeared was replaced by resilience.
The herd it belonged to encountered attacks every few days. Although it remained on the outer edge, it always managed to escape danger, simply because it was more sensitive to scents than other Triceratops.
It could always escape at the first sign, as its father had taught it: running away when you can't win is not shameful. When you can win, you can seek revenge later.
Big Horn didn't know where it was. Every day, it had to work hard just to keep up with the herd, leaving no energy to consider anything else.
One day, Big Horn followed the herd to drink water by the river. It was at the very edge and couldn't squeeze in, so it had to wait until they had all finished drinking before it could have its turn.
Finally, the Triceratops in front moved away, and the river surface was already ruined by them. It dared not go into the deeper parts, and the water in the shallow parts was murky.
After hesitating for just a second, the small water puddle it had spotted was snatched by a skinny, bony Triceratops youngling.
That Triceratops drank rapidly and fiercely, its stiff back always in a vigilant posture, preventing anyone from snatching from it.
Big Horn glanced at it, then turned to snatch another youngling's water puddle and drank heartily.
The murky water tasted very bad. During its time living with the herd, Big Horn had almost forgotten the taste of clear water, let alone the honey water it had drunk before. It wondered if it would ever have the chance to drink it again. Father, mother, brothers, sisters, Big Horn missed you all so much!